Author: Mark Flowers

I'm a retired Soldier who loves history. I've been studying our military past for many years, especially the parts that don't usually make it into books and magazines. My military experienced spanned the Cold War years and after. I served in combat with the Big Red One during the 1991 Gulf War. Today, I live on a pretty spot in the country, where I love peace and quiet. When I'm nor writing, my passion is cooking, especially on my Green Egg.
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An Old Army First Sergeant

9th Infantry Distinctive Unit Insignia
"Sergeant Bruce Bieber." Fort Sam Houston, Tex., 1941, by Tom Lea, US Army Art Collection. 9th Infantry Regiment DUI This outstanding painting depicts 1stSgt Bruce Bieber, US Army. Noted artist Tom Lea painted the 1stSgt on assignment to Life Magazine. An article about Top Bieber appeared in the magazine's 7 July 1941 defense issue. Mr. …

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Getting wet with the Blackhorse

April 1967, Binh Duong Province, Vietnam. An M48A3 of M 3/11 ACR fords a deep stream. Life Magazine Photo by Co Rentmeester.
April 1967, Binh Duong Province, Vietnam. An M48A3 of M 3/11 ACR fords a deep stream. Life Magazine Photo by Co Rentmeester. In April 1967, Co Rentmeester, a noted photojournalist, accompanied 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, during a clearance mission along Highway 13 leading out of Saigon north toward the regional center of An …

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8th Air Force B-17s over Germany, 24 March 1944

24 March 1944, B-17s of the 306th Bombardment Group (Heavy) flying toward their secondary target at the Frankfurt am Main rail yards. U.S.A.A.F. Photo
24 March 1944, B-17s of the 306th Bombardment Group (Heavy) flying toward their secondary target at the Frankfurt am Main rail yards. USAAF Photo This is an amazing photo of the 306th Bombardment Group illustrates how tough the 8th Air Force's mission was in World War II. You can see the weather front in the …

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Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band in the ‘Nam

Here's a great picture of an M-42 Duster and crew in 1970-71. The Duster was a dual mount 40mm antiaircraft gun based on the M41 Walker Bulldog light tank. In their primary role, these weapon systems were obsolete by the time of Vietnam. But they were very effective in the ground support role. In Vietnam, …

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The Battle for Fox Green Beach, D-Day Normandy

This magnificent oil painting by noted artist Dwight Shepler depicts the eastern sector of Omaha Beach on the morning of 6 June 1944. He accompanied the landing force to Normandy and completed this piece upon stateside after the invasion.
This magnificent oil painting by noted artist Dwight Shepler depicts the eastern sector of Omaha Beach on the morning of 6 June 1944. He accompanied the landing force to Normandy and completed this piece upon stateside after the invasion.

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Echo Papa-151 goes down over Song Ngan Valley

Quang Tri Province, Vietnam, 15 July 1966, 1815 local time. On the opening day of Operation Hastings, EP-151, a CH-46 Sea Knight of HMM-265, goes down over the Song Ngan Valley after being hit with NVA 12.7 AA fire.
Quang Tri Province, Vietnam, 15 July 1966, 1815 local time. On the opening day of Operation Hastings, EP-151, a CH-46 Sea Knight of HMM-265, goes down over the Song Ngan Valley after being hit with NVA 12.7 AA fire.

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